Question

Suppose you are an external evaluator, employed by the public health department to evaluate the impacts of a childhood immunization program in the county where you live. How would you involve the stakeholders in the evaluation plan? Defend your approach

Answer 1

Stakeholders are people or organization who invest in the program , get interested in the result of evaluation. Representing the needs and interest of stakeholders is necessary for a good program evaluation.

There are stakeholders like implementers, partners etc.

To involve the stakeholders in the evaluation program, as an external evaluator following activities should be undertaken.

1. Identify the stakeholders who are interested in this evaluation program and make a plan to influence each stakeholders in order to achieve the goals.

2. Analyse the interest of stakeholders and prioritise the interaction with them and allocate resources accordingly.

3. Setting up of plan to approach the stakeholders and draw a campaign plan for engaging and communicating the stakeholders.

4. Harness the insights and influence the attitude of stakeholders and if any resistance is found then take steps to remove the hurdles.

5. Review and monitor the outcome of communication , make an influencial strategy , shape stakeholders perception and opinion.

6. Create greater familiarly with most important stakeholders , motivate them to take part in such program as stakeholders like to have some status within their group.

7. Invite stakeholders in a meeting and give a brief to stakeholders about the evaluation program and the program activity that stakeholders should evaluate.

8. Meeting objectives should be to access the interest and concerns of stakeholders, explaining role and responsibility and sharing communication plan